The face of the Kagay-anon

A.Paulita Roa

JUNE 4, 2017 was the 117th anniversary of the Battle of Macahambus, where the Filipinos won their first victory against the Americans in the 1900-1901 resistance war in Mindanao. I have written the account of this historic battle several times and I would not want to write it for the nth time. However, I choose to write  about the aftermath of this battle because a very intriguing at the same time inspiring thing happened that shows the kind of people the Kagay-anons were over a hundred years ago.

This account is taken from Filomeno M. Bautista’s The Bautista Manuscript on the Philippine Revolution in Misamis Province, 1900-1901 (1995):

“After the battle, the Filipino soldiers gathered the dead and wounded Americans. The dead were buried near the fortress with military honors and attended by the Filipino soldiers and officers.The wounded were brought to the hospital in Langaon for treatment but they died and only one survived. Col. Velez immediately reported to Gen Capistrano the victorious result of the battle. The general congratulated Velez and promoted Lt. Cruz Taal to Captain and Bugler Miguel Puano to Second Lieutenant respectively.

“The day after the battle, an American soldier was sighted clinging to a log in the Cagayan River. He was immediately rescued and brought to the fortress. His lower leg was swollen due to a shattered bone. He was pale and weak. His name was Cpl. Moody of Company M, Regiment of Volunteers No. 40, USA. He was given dry clothes and food. His wound was also treated. But he was sad and asked his captors, ‘Tomorrow mi bung-bung?’ They told him, ‘No.’

Moody was transferred to the hospital in Langaon under the care of Lt. Vicente Espedido of the Medical Corps so he could be treated of his swollen lower leg. While there, he was often visited by soldiers, officers and civilians. They brought him roasted venison or meat from wild pigs, boiled camotes and green corn. They brought him anything that would please him and make him happy. But he kept on repeating the same question to his visitors and their reply was always the same.

When Col. Velez visited Moody, the latter asked if he could write a letter to his commanding officer, Lt. R.K. Cravens to inform him that he is alive and is well taken cared off. Moody also wanted Velez to write his mother about him. The Colonel granted him the permission provided the letter will be coursed through him.This was done. Col. Velez sent the letter of Moody to Lt. Cravens through Don Pio Roa y Alcala for censure. After three days, a letter from Lt. Cravens was sent through Cipriano Vamenta along with some newspapers, magazines, a letter for Cpl.Moody and two boxes of cigars.An excerpt from the letter of Lt.Cravens to Velez:

“I learned from Corporal Moody that you have given him the kind treatment that a prisoner of war deserves. I wish to thank you for this honor and I feel sure that he is safe. I hope the time will come when I can express to you personally my thanks and appreciation for what you have done to him.I am sending you a letter for Corporal Moody, a few newspapers and magazines for him to read and two boxes of cigars. One box is for you and the other is for him. I wish to thank you again for this favor.”

Col. Velez witnessed the cruel and inhumane ways that the Spaniards did to many of the Kagay-anons in the last years of their colonial rule. He knew of many who were bound and tied to stones or scraps of irons and helplessly thrown in Macajalar Bay on the mere suspicions that they were against Spain. Corporal Moody was also aware that as a prisoner of war, he could be tortured and executed anytime. For war can stir so much anger, hatred and animal like cruelty to the soldiers against their enemies. It is common to hear of unspeakable and barbaric acts done to the prisoners of war. This is what that classic phrase meant about “man’s inhumanity to man.’’ It is forgetting that the enemy is also a human being.

Yet for Col. Velez, by burying the enemy with military honors and the kind treatment to the lone prisoner of war, he clearly and purposely deviated from the standard treatment given to the captive by showing kindness, compassion and respect. Historian Bautista wrote further that after the battle of Macahambus, the Filipino soldiers took the guns left by the Americans and became aware of the superiority of their arms. They believed that the next encounter will be more deadly. They were proven right. But it did not stop them from treating their lone prisoner well.

Each war has many faces and in the 1900-1901 war, the we see that beneath the war face of the Kagay-anon is a heart of pure gold. This is the one that shaped the Kagay-anon soul and ennobled us to move on and do greater things for our land and for each other.